RDR - Radar Data Recording and Replay

The RDR software application is a ready-to-run executable, for multi-channel record and replay of primary radar video and associated track, AIS, ADS-B and NMEA navigation data. RDR is also capable of receiving and recording TV video from a Direct Show device or RTSP network stream. Screen recording is also supported, through a special lightweight "Agent" client application. RDR may be supplied purely as a software product or as a turnkey PC system, with appropriate radar input/output cards installed.

The RDR application allows the user to create multiple input channels and then set the input data type for each channel. Depending on the data type, different input source options are supported. For example, RDR can accept primary video via Cambridge Pixel's HPx series of radar interface cards or as network data, in SPx format or ASTERIX CAT-240 format, over Ethernet. Similarly, NMEA-0183 navigation data sentences may be received via serial port or Ethernet. Defining channels is simple and intuitive, and a "quick-look" feature allows the user to confirm that data is successfully being received.

RDR's graphical user interface includes an overview display, showing radar video and tracks in the appropriate world-referenced location, on top of a tiled map underlay. A visual timeline display shows the status of each channel as the recording proceeds. The timeline also shows periodic snapshots of the radar video, as well as event markers. Start/stop markers may be set within the timeline allowing replay to be looped within the defined interval or sections of recordings to be exported.

Discrete user-defined events may be logged at the click of a button. System events (such as loss of channel data) are logged automatically. RDR also supports location-based events, allowing the user to mark where and when a particular type of event occurred. Events are recorded along with the input data, as well as being marked on the timeline and, in the case of location-based events, on the overview display.

On replay, data may be output via user-defined output channels, routing the data to an appropriate physical output. For example, AIS data may be replayed out onto the host system’s serial port or Ethernet port, regardless of which one it was input via. For radar video replay, the application is fully compatible with Cambridge Pixel’s HPx-300 radar output card. RDR can therefore be used as part of an analogue radar record and replay system. Replay mode provides convenient navigation features, such as allowing the user to jump to specific times or events.

RDR includes a recording scheduler, allowing for recording sessions to be started at specified dates and times. Sessions may also be set to repeat with a selected frequency and the scheduler can delete sessions that are older than a specified age. This allows RDR to be configured for continuous capture of the last n days of data.

The RDR graphical user interface provides full control over the application for configuration and operation. Operation of the application may also be controlled via a socket-based control interface, allowing clients to manage recording and replay remotely.

If RDR is required to interface to radars that provide analogue signal output or to display equipment that expects to receive analogue radar signals, then turnkey systems can be supplied with up to three radar input/output hardware cards installed, according to the table below:

System part number

Number of radar input cards

Number of radar output cards

RDR-1xyA

x

y

RDR-1x0B

x

-

RDR-10yC

-

y

(x + y ≤ 3)

For system integrators or OEM developers, the software and radar input/output cards are available as components for integration into a custom system. Please contact us for details of standard system options.